Tragic fate: The fire razing their home in Tanjung Bungah, Penang.
GEORGE TOWN: Losing a pet can be devastating. But losing all 14 of your dogs in a fire that also destroyed your home?
M. Maheswaran, 45, is still grappling with that unimaginable loss. His rescued “furkids”, whom he considered his children, died in the fire that razed his house, destroying over RM250,000 in cash and valuables as well.
Maheswaran, his wife and their son were out for dinner when the fire broke out at their home in Tanjung Bungah on Sept 11. They were less than an hour away when Maheswaran received the tragic news.
The 14 dogs were inside the house at the time.
“They always roamed freely inside the house and were not caged. Unfortunately, they were trapped inside as the fire spread, and my neighbours couldn’t rescue them.
Maheswaran said all of his dogs had been strays.
“Firefighters also warned bystanders to keep their distance due to the risk of explosions,” he said.
Maheswaran, a corporate trainer, said all his dogs had been strays.
“They were between 10 and 15 years old, each with unique names and personalities. They were all mongrels, most of them rescued from Penang Hill where my wife runs a souvenir shop.
“I’ve been rescuing dogs for the past 16 years. I treated them like my own children, and they slept with me,” he said.
His anguish deepened when firemen informed him they had found six dogs downstairs and two upstairs.
Maheswaran and his family held out hope that the remaining six had escaped, but tragically, they were later found under a sofa, dead.
He conducted their last rites, cremated them, and scattered their ashes into the sea.
Now, Maheswaran is looking for a new home, as the fire gutted his rented house and destroyed most of his personal belongings, including photography equipment essential to his work.
On social media, thousands have expressed their sympathy and condolences as Maheswaran shared videos and photos of his time with the dogs.
In one video, he posted photos of all his dogs, referring to himself as “Appa” (father in Tamil) and saying how much he loved them.
“A big part of Appa’s life is gone with your untimely departure,” he said, accompanied by images of the dogs happily spending their days with him.
Another video featured Maheswaran with a dog he called his daughter.
“When you lose your children, you lose a piece of your heart, but they leave you with cherished memories,” he said.
He speculated that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit or wiring issue, though the exact cause is still under investigation.
